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Forged NMRA letter targets Alaris Lanka

20 Jan 2021

A letter purportedly from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), stating that it has imposed a ban on the importation of glutathione molecule combination products, is suspected to have originated from one of the competitors of Alaris Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., the company which was targeted by the letter. When contacted, NMRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe told The Morning yesterday (19) that there is no ban on glutathione molecule combination products in place. “We have not issued such a letter nor made such a request,” he affirmed. The letter stated that the ban applied to Facia Premium, one of the most popular products of Alaris Lanka, which has been in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry since 2002. When contacted by The Morning, Alaris Lanka Managing Director Tharanga Weerawardena speculated that the letter was fabricated by two of their competitors, but stopped short of naming them. “I suspect this is an act of two of our competitors who have colluded to tarnish my company’s reputation which has been carefully built over nearly two decades. In fact, a similar letter was circulated in 2019 as well. It appears that the same letter has resurfaced now with the date changed,” Weerawardena told The Morning. The forged letter was addressed to Sri Lanka Customs Director General Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya, and ordered Customs to take the necessary steps to confiscate all products containing the said molecule coming into the country, as the NMRA does not permit it. All attempts made by The Morning to reach Maj. Gen. Ravipriya proved unsuccessful. However, Customs Additional Director General and Media Spokesman Sunil Jayarathna confirmed that a similar letter had circulated in 2019 as well for the same reasons. “The particular company (Alaris) had informed us that the letter was being circulated by competitors who want to damage their reputation,” Jayarathna said. Glutathione is an antioxidant produced in cells, which largely comprises three amino acids: Glutamine, glycine, and cysteine.


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